Empties

Thursday, April 5, 2018

Finally! Doing my first empties post. These are collected over quite a long period of time - focusing mainly on skincare. I have accidentally threw away a few products, which I will mention down below - for those that I can remember.

Let's begin.

MIST

La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water was recommended to me by a friend. I was told that this really helps to soothe sensitive skin especially during breakouts. Just spray this over bare skin or makeup through out the day for some hydration. Hmm.. I felt nothing with this. I don't really like 'water' type facial mists. Will not repurchase.

Soo Beaute Aloe Vera Hydrating Jelly Mist is so so hydrating and it layers amazing over makeup. If you are looking for a mist to throw in your purse. I highly recommend this. You can get this at Sasa and it is really affordable. Korean skincare brands really don't disappoint. I am currently finishing up another similar product from Nature Republic - Aloe Vera Soothing Gel Mist. I love both! I do prefer the nozzle on Nature Republic's mist.

TONER

Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner is an oldie but goodie toner that I used to love during my breakout days. This helped clear up my skin so much. If you are experiencing some type of breakout. Please give this a try! I'm throwing this out because it is way past it's expiry and I'm testing out other chemical exfoliating toners at the moment.

Dear, Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner really lived up to the hype. This was the product that saved my skin last year. This is the perfect toner to do the 7-skin method. When I was being really diligent with skincare, I did the 7-skin every day and night. It works well under makeup too and kept my base looking amazing even at the end of the day. My skin was so well hydrated and had minimal breakout or clogged pores. Please please practice the 7-skin method! It will change your skin. Do note to only use more hydrating type toners like this.

Son & Park Beauty Water. Need I even say more about this cult favourite. I have completely skipped morning cleansing as I find it unnecessary - it just strips my skin of more moisture. This has been my go-to for the longest time and I already have 2 backups hehehe go run and get this.

Cosrx One Step Pimple Clear Pad was another alternative to the beauty water that I used day and night. I have finished up 2 tubs and will continue to repurchase.

Cosrx One Step Moisture Up Pad was my preferred pad to use in the day especially before makeup. It helps to hydrate and prep my skin, at the same time removing any dirt on the surface. If I had to choose between one, I would give this a win over the pimple pad. However if you have acne prone skin, definitely go for the pimple clear pads.

ESSENCE-TYPE TONER

Hanyul Rice Essential Skin Softener. I have to give this a huge shout out. At first I genuinely thought it was placebo effect when I felt my skin becoming softer after using this for a week. I stopped using this for a while in between and whenever I got back on this, after a few days I do notice a difference. I already got a backup of this and this has got to be in my top few favourite skincare products at the moment! Highly recommend! I use the 7-skin method with this when my skin is feeling extra dry or tight. If not I usually only layer this 2-3 times.

SERUM, TREATMENT

Kiehls Corrective Dark Spot Solution is definitely another cult favourite. However I will not be repurchasing this as I noticed minimal difference with this. I prefer the Cosrx version much much more - which you can getat a fraction of the price.

Cosrx Mela 14 White Ampule is the brightening/whitening serum that I loved from Cosrx. I have used up 2 bottles and I really notice a difference on my skin when I use it everyday.

Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is another brightening product that was highly raved in the beauty community. I am still not too sure if this really worked and helped my skin brighten up. But I definitely liked how light weight it was. All the 3 products I mentioned are clear light weight serums that works well underneath makeup.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo is a cream that helps to lighten marks. I find that 'fresher' marks really lightened when I was using this day and night for a few days. I still have one more back up as I got it during a sale. Might not repurchase as I do want to try other similar type products. I did not particularly love or hate this one. Just that the results did not wow me enough for me to repurchase.

Kiehls Midnight Recovery Concentrate was a well loved product. I really trusted this to help heal my skin, especially when I have broken skin or breakouts. I have been through at least 2 or 3 of this. I still have many many skincare products to go through and test out. But I will definitely repurchase this in the future. The scent is also another plus point - reminds me of spa and helps me relax before bed.

CREAM

Laneige Firming Sleeping Pack was meh. I bought a duo of this quite long ago and will not repurchase. I don't think Laneige sleeping masks are that great. I feel that they are way overrated.

Estee Lauder Cyber White is so old lol. I am tossing it out because it has expired so long ago and I had completely forgotten about this product. I have used more than half of it and really felt that it was nothing too special. Their hydrating cream is much better but personally I will not repurchase their products anymore as I am just enjoying other (cheaper) creams much more.

Dear, Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Cream is a moisturising cream that layers well under makeup. I used it with their soothing serum and both works well together. I find that this is a good product for drier/dehydrated skin types. I will not repurchase as of now as I have too many other creams to finish and new ones to test out. But I do like this one.

EYE

Origins GinZing has a peachy colour and little micro shimmers in it, I guess it helps to brighten your under eye area. I still have one of this as I got it as a gift with purchase. I don't find this particularly hydrating so after I'm done with the other one, I will not repurchase. I much prefer the Kiehls Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado - this has a weird texture but I found a great way to work with it and it layers really well under makeup.

First Aid Beauty Detox Eye Roll has a metal roller ball and helps to de-puff your eye bags. I enjoyed using this in the morning as the metal ball is cooling and helps to wake me up. It is more like an essence for the eyes instead of a hydrating product. I will not recommend using this alone - as it's sole purpose is to de-puff I guess. Which kinda might not be worth the $ when I think about it - it did not help to lighten dark circles or hydrate (which it claims to). Save your money and just put a spoon in the fridge overnight to achieve the same de-puffing effect.

HAND CREAM

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Concentrated Cream was a pretty nice thick hand cream. Probably won't repurchase. I still have one more that I bought when Watsons had 1-for-1 sales. I did really enjoy the scent. If you love chocolates..... you will love it. This smells like rubbing cocoa all over. Can be good or bad as it makes me really hungry and crave for chocolate at night when I use this before bed.

Philosophy Hands of Hope was a gift with purchase. Another meh product. I didn't feel much about this. Just a very ordinary hand cream. I have tried better ones.

Etude House Big Cover Concealer Cushion was pretty good and long lasting, while hydrating at the same time. I will not repurchase this version as they have another concealer in the same series called the Tip Concealer which I prefer much more. That one lasts longer and has better coverage, and cheaper.

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer is a lightweight everyday concealer. Works great under the eyes and all over the face. Will not conceal marks as it has really light coverage but it gives you healthy and natural looking skin. Highly recommend if you prefer doing natural makeup or if you already have pretty good skin.

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer has been a long time favourite and I already have back ups of this. My mum loves this one too - she has dry skin.

CUSHION

Moonshot x BlackPink Cushion Balm was a favourite of mine for a long time. I used it on my off days and it has great coverage and lasting power. Really looks good even in Singapore's humid weather. I still one more in my stash. Will recommend for dry to normal skin type.

NAIL

Sally Hansen Dry & Go Drops has been a miracle worker. You basically drop this over your polish and it dries really fast! Not as fast as 60 seconds as it claims but I'm good to go after a few minutes. I carry this with me during work just incase a huge chunk of my polish chips off. Such a burden but I can't stand it when I have chipped nail polish.

That's all my empties and I hope you can share with me what you emptied and loved or hated. I am in the midst of consolidating my recent favourites on both skincare and makeup. Stay tuned for that!